Road-bearing meter



June 12, 1923. 1,458,920

F. J. TROLL ROAD BEARING METER Filed Oct. 25 1919 2SheetSSheet l 8mnewton June 12, 1923;

FQJ. TROLL ROAD BEARING METER Filed Oct. 25, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a x1,uewtoz `Patente-d June 12, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J'. TROLL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 THE LOADOMETERCOMPANY, A CORPORATION F DELAWARE.

ROAD-BEARIN G METER.

Application led October 25, 1919. Serial No.' 333,315. l

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, F REDERTCK J. TROLL, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing in the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Bearing Meters, ofwhich the following is a, specification, v

The destruction of road surfaces incident to heavy traffic, particularlymotor vehicle traffic', has resulted in legislation limiting the weightper unit of tire width which may be carried on road vehicles. Theterritoryv in which such legislation is enforced is being rapidlyextended, though the adoption of such laws has been retarded on accountvof the difliculties incident to inspection. Where violation of the lawin this regard is merely suspected, to compel the driver of a heavilyloaded vehicle to-depart from his route, in order that the vehicle andload might be weighed, would work extreme hardship and often injustice.

The present invention is 'intended to overient portable device fordetermining the i bearing pressure'on tires. This apparatus may be usedeither by the operator of the vehicle to avoid violation of the law, orby traffic officers andthe like to detect such violations, the samebeing adapted to be carried conveniently by a traffic officer in hismachine, and of such weight that it can be removed from the machine andhandled and arranged foroperation by one man. It is also comparativelyinexpensive, so that it may logically be a part of the equipment, as arethe speedometer, and other testing and indicating devices, as airgauges, jacks, etc. The apparatus consists of a portable yieldingrsupport, having means for -indieating the weight borne by the support,the same being of small dimensions and low or flat, and adapted to beplaced beneath any one ofthe wheels of a road vehicle to determine theweight borne by it. .As the most convenient means of getting it beneaththe wheel is to place it in the road and run the wheel on to it, arun-way is a convenient, 60 if not a necessary part of the equipment,and the run-way or runways are preferably made detachable, so that theweighing member Lor support may be' handled separately come thisdifliculty by providing a conventhere is shown in connection with thein- Y vention in its preferred form a coil or other arrangement offlexible tubing, containing fluid which operates in connection with afluid pressure gauge, to determine the pres-` sure on the yieldingsupport, the coil of tub-1 ing being so placed that the pressure of theyielding member is applied directly to its lateral surfaces. v

The tubing used is preferably of comparatively heavy cross-section,presenting suficient resistance without internal support to carry any`load which may be applied to the apparatus without injury tothe Wallsof the tubing. This makes maintenance of the fluid pressure within thetubing not essential to the preservation of the apparatus. To preventconcentration of pressure, or Weight of the load at any one point on thecoil or fluid container, particularly when the vehicle runs o'nto or offof the support and presses the edges of the same, have provided ashield, which extends Well toward the center-of the coil and supportsthe wheel until it is well away from the periphery of the coil, My roadbearing meter is utilized in connection with a weighing method which isa part of my invention. It has been ascertained by calculation that thebearing pressure exerted by a wheel cannot be accurately determined whenthat Wheel is raised by-inclining the axle but that the axle must bemaintained substantially parallel to the surface, the pressure on whichis to be ascertained. By using my road bearing meters in pairs spacedapart by the Width of the tread so that the Wheels may be run on them inpairs, it is made possible to read all four wheels correctly withcomparatively little effort or a maximum reading may be obtained bymerely running over the meters thus placed.

It has also been found that the total load which in a number lof Statesmust be ascertained before any actiocan be taken under pressure gauge',or

the law for overloading, can be ascertained by adding the readings as toall our wheels as thus read.

The method of my invention therefore consists in providing a pluralityof weighing platforms placed in the path of the ve hicle and spaced tocorrespond to the tread, running the vehicle wheels on to the platformsand adding the readings obtained for the 4four wheels. y

ln the drawings, Figure 1, is a the support and run-ways.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus, showing a portion of aroad vehicle with a wheel resting thereon in operative position fordetermining the road pressure.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan, showing two units or meters, one undereach of the rear wheels of the road vehicle.

Figure 5 is an elevation illustrating the measuring device by plan ofwhich the bearing pressure is read or indi heavy rubber tubing,

the casting.

Vthe top of the frame,

,. of the run-ways,

cated. y

The apparatus as shown consists on a frame, or base, 1, having anupwardly disposed guiding opening,'2, containing a re silient member, 3,and a yielding support, 4, cooperating with the guiding opening, 2, andresting on the yielding member, 3,with an indicator, 5,' connected tosaid resilient means to indicate the pressure thereon in the desiredunit. The apparatus, as-shown, also includes run-ways, 6, detachablyconnected with the hase and inclined downward from the plane ofthe topsurface othe yielding support, 4, to the road A.

More particularly, the base, 1, is a casting of comparatively smallvertical dimensions, shown as square in plan, and having a centralaperture or chamber, 2, which is circular in plan and straight as to itsside walls, 7, which are substantially vertical. This guiding chamber inthe casting is open at the top for the full area of the cross-section,and contains a yielding support, 4, which is of similar shape as itscross-section, but of slightly less area, so that it works freely up anddown in the guiding chamber. This yielding support, 4, which bears asimilar relation tothe chamber, 2, to that of an engine or pump pistonto its cylinder, rests upon resilient member, 3, which in the presentinstance is shown in the form o a coil of 8, which tends to maintain theyielding support near the level of 1. The base, 1, is shown as provided,adjacent to. opposite sides, 9, with horizontal grooves, 10, parallel tothese sides, and spaced below thetop of These grooves receive downwardlydisposed tongues, 11, on the edges 12, which are tapered and curved asto their lower edges,

.13.1 and of the top surface o each run-way adjacent to the base castingto the top of the base or frame as hereinafter described.

The yielding support, 4, already described l as circular in plan, isshouldered or depressed as to two edge segments, 15, at the front andback, the shoulders being on the line of parallel chords, 16, of thecircle. The casting referred to as the base or frame, 1, iscorrespondingly shouldered as to the areas, 17, extending across thesame adjacent and parallel to'said chords, and extending out to theedges or sides, 9, of the base, to which the run-ways are attached, andeach shoulder or depressed portion is filled by means of a rectangularbar of metal, 18, extending along thev corresponding edge of the frame.and

covering a segmental portion of the chamber, 2, se that the inner edgeof each bar, 18, is adjacent and parallel to the corresponding chordsand shoulder, 16, and overlies the depressed segment of the circularyielding member. 4.

v I'n the Jform of the invention shown, the weight on the yieldingsupport, 4, is read by means of a fluid pressure indicator connected toa body of fluid under pressure, in the tube or container, 8. Such apressure indicator is shown generally at 20 in Figure 5. It may be ofany well known or preferred commercial type. In connection with thepressure indicator, 20, I have shown a pressure regulating or adjustingdevice, 21, by means of which the fluid pressure may from time to timebe adjusted to the desired minimum reading, corresponding to no weighton the yielding support, 4, to compensate for leakage and evaporation ofthe iuid, andthe like, so that the instrument may read direct in poundsof weight on the yielding support, without correction for variation oftheminimum fluid pressure.l

is provided with ratchet teeth, 29, engaged by a leaf spring or springpawl, 30, on the frame, to prevent rotation of the same from adjustedposition. The collar, 27, acts as an abutment, engaging the face, 31, ofthe thrust bearing 25. In this instance, the screw engages a threadedsocket, 33, at the 'end of the accordion sack or bellows, 22,

which is connected to the fluid in the system by a tube, 34. This 'tubeleads to a nipple,

'llO

` the auge will indicate zero for no weight .l the tread, running thewheels on to the on t e yielding support, 4, the adjusting dcvice Wlllserve to regulate the pressure to this desired minimum to bring theindicator to zero.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated a method of Weighing motor vehicles intransit which consists in placing a plurality of Weighing instruments l,in the path of the vehicle Wheels said weighing instruments being spacedapart to correspond to the Width of Wei hing instruments and combiningthe rea ings for the respective Wheels to give the total Weight or theaverage wheel pressure, or utilizing the readings separately1 asindicating thepressure exerted by the respec-` tive wheels.

The operation of the entire appara-tus has been fully set folgth in thespecification. The important functlon of the apparatus is thedetermination of Wheel bearing pressure, by ipdica-ting the Weight oneach Wheel of the vehicle being tested, and the advantages of thepresent apparatus are that it is conveniently portable and easilyapplied or used, in that it is not only easily handled, but is of suchshort vertical dimension that it can be pla-ced in the road near4 theWheel of the vehicle to be tested, and the Wheel can be run in totesting position Without difficulty, or the Wheel may be jacked up andthe testing member thrust under it when it is released from the jack,placing the Weight carried by the Wheel on the testing member.

The elastic or resilient element of the present device is particularlyadapted to this purpose, being extremely' sensitive and uniform as tothe correctness of the result at all capacities; also it is of extremelylong life and fool-proof, in that it cannot be injured by variation ofthe fluid pressure in the system, or by application of the greatest loadwhich will be encountered.

I have thus described specically, and in detail the apparatus embodyingmy invention, in order that its nature and operation may be clearlyunderstood; however, the specific terms are used descriptively, ratherthan in a limited sense, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A manually portable road bearing pressure meter, comprising aportable base.

of short vertical dimension, a weight supporting member with guidlngmeans 1n the base, a resilient member withm the base beneath saidsupporting member, the same having sufficient resistance to'support theWheel of a loaded truck, and means for indicating the weight on saidmember.

2. A tire bearing pressure meter, comprising a manually portableapparatus including a base, a platform member and a guide therefor, aresilient member of sufficient resistance to carry a wheel of a loadedtruck. supporting the platform member, said apparatus being of extremelyshort vertical dimension and having an inclined portion leading to theplatform so that the wheel of a truck can be run onto it withoutdifficulty when 4it is placed in the roadway and means for indicatingthe pressure on said resilient member.

3. A tire bearing pressure meter, comprising a portable base, a platformmember mounted thereon, a resilient member in the form of a yieldingcontainer with fluid under pressure supporting the platform member, andmeans for indicating said pressure, the apparatusbeing of extremelyshort vertical dimension so that the Wheel `of a truck can be run ontoit Without difficulty and the yielding container being of sufficientresistance to support a corresponding load.

4. In a portable tire bearing' pressure meter, a base of -short verticaldimension,-

fluid in said tubing, and means for indicating the subjected.

5. A bearing pressure meter for roads, comprising a manually portableapparatus, of short vertical dimension having a yielding support for avehicle Wheel the same belng of width only sufficient to receive andsupport a single Wheel and means for indieating the pressure on thesupport.

G. A road bearing pressure meter, the same being portable, comprising abase having a guidel for a yielding platform, a yielding platform insaid guide, a resilient member beneath said platform, supporting thesame, means for leading a vehicleu'heel up to the surface of saidplatform, and a rigid member on the base adjacentfto said means, andextending over a portion of said platform to receive the weight of theWheel and support 1t as it passes over the edge of the yielding member,to prevent concentration of pressure on a limited areal of the resilientmember.

7. In a road bearing pressure meter, a portable base having a yieldingplatform, a resilient support for the same, means for pressure to whichsaid fiuid is ioo indicating the pressure thereon, the base and.platform being of short verticall di'- mension and portable, and aportable runway and means for detachably connecting the latter to thebase.

8. In a road bearing pressure meter, a base having a yielding platform,a resilient support for the same, means for indicating 'the' pressurethereon, the base and platform being of short vertical dimension andportable, a portable run-way adapted to be fdetachably connected to saidbase, the connecting means consisting of an upwardly disposed groove onthe base and a down- Wardly disposed tongue on the run-way.

9. In a road bearing pressure meter, a base having a yielding platform,a resilient support for the same, means for indicating the pressurethereon, the'base and platform being of short vertical dimension andportable, a run-Way adaptedto "be detach- `ably connected lto said base,the resilient means -being uniformly distributed beneath the yieldingplatform and a shield extending over the edge of the platform, adjacentto the top of the run-way, to transfer the weight on the Wheel to thecentralA portion of' the yielding platformf'yland protect the resilientmember. from Vundue concentration 30, of the Weight on a limited areathereof.

10. A roadbearingupressure meter comprising a base, a yielding platformon the base, a guide therefor, a coil of tubing of resilient materialbeneath said platform supporting the sameiathe tubing having thick base,a guide therefor, a coil of tubing of resilient. material beneath saidplatform supporting the same, the tubing having thick Walls and a smallpassage, fluid pressure transmitting means Within said passage, andmeans connected thereto for reading the pressure on the fluid, the Wallsof the tubing being sufficiently thick to support the weights to bemeasured without injury to the tubing in the absence of fluid pressureWithin the same.

12. A road bearing pressure meter comprisinga base, a yielding platformon the l ase, a guide therefor, a coil of ltubing of resilient materialbeneath said platform supporting-the same, the tubing having thickWalls, fluid pressure transmitting means within said passage, and meansconnecte 00 thereto for reading the pressure on the fluid,

a shieldpverlying the edge of the yielding platform to support the Wheelto an intermediate, portion of the platform, to prevent concentration ofthe weight on the periphery U of the coil.

13. A road bearing pressure meter comrising a base, a yielding platformon the ase, a guide therefor, a coil of tubing of resilient materialbeneath said platform supporting the saine', the tubing having thickWalls and a small passage, Huid pressure transmission means Within saidpassage, and means connected thereto for reading the pressure on theiuid, a run-Way for leading thel Weight on the Wheel to the surface of'the platform, and a shield adjacent to the run-Way, overlying the edgeof the platform to 'transfer the Weight to an intermediate portion 'ofthe platform.

14. A method of Weighing road vehicles and their loads which consists inplacing a plurality of manually portable independent I Weighing units onthe surface of the road- Way in the path of the Wheels, spacing themapart to correspond to the tread, running the respective Wheels ontotlie Weighing units, Weighing the load on each whee se arately andcombining the readings for t e respective v vheels to give the desiredtotal.

15. A method of determining Wheel pressureof road vehicles While thevehicles are on the road, which consists in placing a plurality ofmanually portable independentl` .Weighing units on the roadway in thepath of the Wheels, spacing them apart to correspond to the tread,running thewheels onto the Weighing units and reading the respec-c` tiveWeighing units.

'16. A method of ascertaining Wheel pressure on road surfaces whichconsists in placing a plurality of manually portable independentWeighing units on the surface of the roadway in the path of the Wheels,spaced 'to correspond with the tread and running tlie wheels over theWeighing units, and obtaining the reading of said units.

17. A tire bearing a pressure meter comprising a portable base, aplatform inember mounted thereon, a resilient member in the form of ayielding container with iuid under pressure supporting the platform, theapparatus being of extremely short vertical dimension so that the Wheelof a truck can be run onto it Without difficulty land the yieldingmember being of suficient resistance to support a corresponding load,means for applying pressure to the fluid in said containerand a gaugeconnected to the Huid body, the pressure applying means serving v tirebearing pressure meter coma 4platform member d mounted thereon, aresilient member in the form of a yielding container with iuid underpressure supporting the platform, the a paratus being of extremely shortvertical dimension so that the wheel of a truck can be run ,ponto itwithout diiculty and the yieldingmember being of suicient resistance tosupport a correspondin;r 1111111, 11101111s for applyingr pressure tothe 1111111 111 said Container and a ,gauge connected 111 the 1111111body` the pressure applyiner 11101111sservin1f to adjust the gauge tothe des-111011 111111111111111 reading. said ,1j-auge being separate1111111 the remainder of the apparatus. and a flexible tube1:11nne1fti11g`1- the gauge to the 111111111 in the container so thatthe ,gauge can he held in the hand t'or reading.

19. A tire bearing pressure meter 11.0111- prisingr a portable base. 1 1platform member mounted thereon. 11 resilient member 1n the form of ayieldingV container with 1111111 11nder pressure supporti11, r theplatform. the apparat-us being 01" extremely short vertical dimension sothat the wheel of a truck 111n be run onto it without difiieulty and theyielding member being of suflicient resistance to support acorresponding' 1111111` means for applyingr pressure to the 1111111 111said eontainer and a gauge Connected to the 1111111 body. the pressureapplyinpl1 means` serving to adjust the graugre to 111e desired111111111111111 reading. said gauge 111111 pressure applying*r meansl1ein,fl separate 1'1'11111 the remainder of the apparatus and 11flexible tube e111111e1-t- 111,11' the gauge and pressure applyinpr111011115 1o the 111111111 in the 0111111111101 so that 111e gauge andpressure applying means` c1111 he held in the hand 1'111' readingr and1'111 adjustment 111' the pressure.

Signed 11.1' 111e at 111111111111111. this 21st day of (letoher. 151111.

FREDERICK .1. TROLL.

Maryland 'itnesses 111111111111 AHLSLEGER, Pon'rmn H. FLAU'PI.

1,458,920.-Fre1ler1'clc J. Troll, Baltimore, Md. ROAD-BARING METER.

dated Juhe l2, 1923, Troll, the assignee, 1f: Decker ManufacturingCompany.

Patent Disclaimer tiled April 30, 1930, by the patentee said TheLoaclometer Company,

and the sole licensee, Thel Black Hereby enter their disclaimer as toclaim 15, Which reads: l 15. A method of determining wheel pressures ofload vehicles While the vehicles are on the road, which consists inplacing a plurality of manually portable independent,

Weighing units on the roadway in spond to the tread, running therespective Weighing units.

[Oficial Gazette, May 20, 1930.]

the path of the wheels, spacing them apart to correwheels 1111 to theweighing units, and reading the

